What size pots for sweet pepper (minimax)

[Tomato Head]

I have finally got some sweet peppers to germinate at the third time of asking. They are currently in a seed tray and approx 1 1/2 inches tall. They are sweet minimax. The instructions on the packet tell me to grow them on into 4 inch pots and then into large pots or growbags (but doesn't specify how large). I really need to pot them straight into something bigger than 4 inches as I am hoping to get them outside soon (if the rain stops and the sun comes back). The plan is to put them in the plastic greenhouse with the tomatoes but I can't put 4 inch pots in there as they will get blown around if it's windy (I learnt that lesson when I was hardening off my tomatoes) so they really need to go into bigger pots soon so that they'll be heavier and more stable when I put them outside. Is it ok to put them in bigger pots straight away and how big? How much depth do they need for the roots?

[Matt94]

hmmm i would normally suggest to pot them on into 3 inch pots, and then into their final position, but seen as though we are into june i think you will be fine to put them straight inot growbags on big pots - right to answer your next question - do you have any florists/ morrisons near you they will normally sell you florist buckets (around 10 for a quid), these are a perfect size for peppers and toms, as they are deep enough for a good root system to develop.

i think that all you Q's answered?

[Tomato Head]

Thanks. I have some morrisons flower buckets (and hope to get some more this weekend) so I'll put them in those if that's the best size. I think I'll leave them in their seed tray for a little while longer is it's fairly large and deep but has no drainage holes so I can only water them from the top. But if/when the weather improves they will have to go into their final homes so that I can get them outside.

[Matt94]

yeh i normally put my peppers in at around 3inch minimum - if they are on the windowsill in the house they wont take that long to get to that height!

[Pa Snips]

Mine are in MFB's and are doing well. They were continually shedding their buds when in 4" pots but now I have lots of little peppers.







Hopefully the same will apply to my chillies which had also started shedding their buds, two of them have just gone into MFB's today, the other two will follow in a day or so.

[Potstubsdustbins]

MF buckets will be fine as their final pot. Personally I would pot them up into 3 to 4 inch pots first to allow their root system to develop without being over whelmed.

Colin